A couple of new (old) Aussie indigenous named ‘Arps; the Nulla - Nulla and the Woomera. While setting out to determine if a Nugget mouth organ had ever been advertised (I didn’t), I dug up a Nulla - Nulla sold by Beale’s of Brisbane. A Nulla Nulla is an indigenous club used, well, you probably … Continue reading Nulla-Nulla and the Woomera two
North wind rolling down my friends are leaving townI know they're waiting just for meOne more summer gone and one more winter songAnd one more time I tried to leave Wintersong (Quill/Tolhurst/Dubois) Country Radio’s follow up single to Gypsy Queen was the brilliant avant-garde Wintersong. Another co-write by Greg Quill and Kerryn Tolhurst, following on … Continue reading Song for Winter (Spring, Summer & Autumn too!)
Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Sometime back, Pat ‘The Groovy Guru’ Missin had alerted HRR that Australia’s Boomerang Mouth Organs were sold in America 🇺🇸. He had unearthed a 1924 Pennsylvania advert from Landau’s Music House promoting their Boomerang mouth organs. Later he stumbled on a report that … Continue reading American Boomerangs
The latest inclusion to the Shep museum is this ripper specimen, the Boomerang Miniature Grand. Made by the oldest current mouth organ factory in the world Seydel in Klingenthal, Germany for Albert & Son in Sydney, Australia. This is possibly an antique (or close to) model. 1910 C. A. Seydel Söhne Trademark Trademarked in 1910, … Continue reading Grand Poobah
On a ship that's made of paperOh yeah, I will sail the seven seasFight a shark with a toothpickCrawled home to you on my kneesThere isn't nothing baby I wouldn't do Double bonus here with fabulous blues harp from Steve Williams and great vocals from John Power on this ‘B’ side cracking cover of a … Continue reading Power Play
Musical Mr. Subbubs News (Adelaide) Fri 13 Mar 1925 When I first observed this 100 year old cartoon I thought it was an early version of Homer Simpson. A man of the burbs (of course) was Mr. Subbubs, who loved his music and sports. I do see some of myself in him - even his … Continue reading Mr. Subbubs off to South Street.
Edward Harold Collier (22 January 1905 - 8 April 1966) A young Harold Collier resplendent in creams. Harold Collier’s son Geoff posted a comment on Collingwood’s Crackajack Collier way back in 2023. We’ve kept in touch and he recently sent a few photocopies of his Dad which are pictured here. Geoff also provided a wee … Continue reading Collier Wood (Did)
Before you begin this latest episode you may want to read (revisit) the earlier posts on Gene, The Gene Genius and Gene Genius Returns. Recently I stumbled across another newspaper article on the kid, which also led to further discoveries and thus this hotchpotch of a post. The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic) Wed 2 Dec … Continue reading Gene Genius Rides Again (Big Time)
Two recent acquisitions for the Shep museum. Firstly this Hohner Echo Tremolo (pictured above), which has an interesting back story. The Hohner Echo brand dates back to the turn of the twentieth century. This ‘Made In England’ Echo to circa 1949 post WWII. Hohner had some harmonicas assembled in England using German made parts around … Continue reading England Echo or Don’t Mention The War
14 Double Holes (F A Rauner not identified on either plate) - Doesn’t appear in 1905 Cat Page from Feldheim, Gotthelf & Co 1905 Store Catalogue (Musical Instruments were located on their second floor) Box top inside label Left: Scorcher F A Rauner TM Right: 12 Double Holes (back plate identifies F A Rauner) - … Continue reading Firebrand
Harmonica Riff Raff 